Tiny old brass travel Gillette

[roaduck]

Is this 20`s or 30`s ? - I`ve no idea about razors - It`s an open comb on way in a tiny velvet lined brass box - bought for a song.
I think it may be solid brass - I`ll show it you all when it lands in a day or two.
I prefer the longer handle on the German 1930`s vintage brass/stainless steel 4 piece travel one below - excellent design, balance and weight for me.

It looks a bit like my vintage brass / S/S German one above that, to my untrained eye looks more or less the same age - it shaves really well because the head is thin and curved which bends and tensions the blade ; efficient but smooth.
It has a lovely profile that`s ideal for me - cost peanuts as well.

I love my vintage British Gillette aluminium travel too - 60`s - 70`s ? - no idea

 

[roaduck]

It looks like a vintage German Cosmo 4 piece travel but not as good quality.

 

[roaduck]

The tiny Gillette arrived - from the twenties - thirties - in a time machine - just kidding.
Obviously a travel one but no idea which model or date - I`m new here etc.
The brass box is a tiny bit bigger than a lighter.
Just gonna wash it properly - love the brass patina - but the handle`s a bit short and I`ve got a long neck - nevermind - we shall overcome.

Not gonna fully restore it with bicarb, citric acid powder, nano glass polish, ultrasonic - all that caper - no need - if it`s not broke - don`t fix it.
The blades look interesting and a lot older than I.

Restraint at all times lol !

Bought for a song on the bay.

 

[BigJ]

Congratulations!! Enjoy!!

 

[roaduck]

Thanks - I like chunky solid brass lighters with mega hinges too BigJ - the one above weighs 4 times as much as a Zippo at 212 grams - Zorro - built to last !

 

[Windigo]

It's clone ,not Gillette.

 

[nemo]

Doesn't look Gillette to me, plus you're missing the smaller piece of the handle (unless it's trapped inside!).

 

[nemo]

Gillette old type 4-piece traveler looks like this:

 

[Wombat ESQ]

I'm going with German made, or a country very close to Germany [Austria] because they all have a distinct shape.

4 Piece handles ....

3 of those are so similar it's not funny, yet they are different brand names and two different countries, one is Chechoslovakian, bottom far right is a Gillette #26 one of three different styles that I have, but irrelefant to your open comb.

The two center ones are what you are aiming for, a hobbyist may offer to turn one for you? but not this little black duck, or keep a look out, they come round regularly.
As for a theory, I would have a wild stab in the dark with an over ripe banana and say most of these in that particular shape were the 'spoils of war'??? Some cases are marked with makers marks, some just say 'Made in Germany' and others give no clues.

 

[roaduck]

Thank you all guys - for the most illustrious , instantaneous and illuminating response - I thought it was a 4 piece - the top bit has gone West to make it originally longer !
Your research, time, patience and time is most appreciated.
Merci beaucoup !

 

[Mack the Razor]

 

[Wombat ESQ]

Well, slap me upside the head with a wet fish Do I get a prize for (Austria) ? I'm buying all them there handles I see now, slap a wet fish genuine Gillette head on them and making a fortune sellin 'em off

 

[roaduck]

I wasn`t too bothered Wombat ESQ - I`ll find the end bit on the bay or just swap it with my 4 piece antique German one in a similar case.
Correction - already done it; works fine - hooray !

I just tried swapping the end bit from my German one to Gillette Vest handle barrel and it fits - same thread - interchangeable because they were copies - job`s a good `un.

Got two working vintage pocket open comb travel razors now - it`s quite aggressive but I can take the rough with the smooth - I`m quite old; been shaving 45 years so I`ve used a LOT of razors - from rusty pitted 1865 German straights to modern Japanese safety`s.

I can shave with anything and I mean ANYTHING - no choice in the Sahara desert or a war zone.

I don`t need a light bulb, a brush, a mirror or even soap and water to shave - I`ve used cut-throats with booze and oil when I was very drunk - a lot more than once - I`m a tough old Ruskie Scorpio !

 

[Wombat ESQ]

A werd of wisdom, before the market goes mongrel with my Fake Gillette Vest Pockets.

An Austrian shaped handle can only be a Gillette Vest Pocket .... "IF" ..... the guard is Marked as a Gillette! no diamond, no made in usa ... no is not a genuine V P by gillette !

I'm just sticking this in 'ear, now, because sellers 'research' stuff, allegedly ! then all of a sudden the market goes wild with multiple 'Wholly Grails' ?
Just last week, a seller had "researched", ALLEGEDLY, a silver plate shaving scuttle complete with a lid hot damn a rarity? But wait, no handle? no brush rest? lid has a half moon cut out? DUH!!!! is african Sugar Bowl ya bleedin numpty !!!
I dang sure after being told what it IS, it has been re-listed without the lid.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

I just tried swapping the end bit from my German one to Gillette Vest handle barrel and it fits - same thread - interchangeable because they were copies - job`s a good `un.

#10-32 UNF Imperial thread, #10 is the size of the bolt diameter, 32 is the number of teeth per inch, a very very common all purpose thread size in lot of razors across many countries [5mm is as close as metric comes, today] hence the interchangeability. Even metric 5mm bolts will screw in being 0.174mm smaller than #10, with pitch difference of 0.795 and 0.80 respectively.

 

[roaduck]

Wow Wombat - Thank You - you`ve left me standing - I know nothing about razors or shaving - I initially joined here to enable me to have an easier life after a lifetime of toil, illness and sadness but have since discovered that you all are patient, knowledgeable shavers who can impart valuable advice to hairy hippy cavemen such as myself.

I was under the impression that Americans adopted the (Manchester) Whitworth screw and subsequent Imperial inch measurement system to assuage the already metric adopting bureaucrats and scientists of generally the majority of Europe considering the mostly British hitherto historical connection.

 

[roaduck]

A werd of wisdom, before the market goes mongrel with my Fake Gillette Vest Pockets.

An Austrian shaped handle can only be a Gillette Vest Pocket .... "IF" ..... the guard is Marked as a Gillette! no diamond, no made in usa ... no is not a genuine V P by gillette !

I'm just sticking this in 'ear, now, because sellers 'research' stuff, allegedly ! then all of a sudden the market goes wild with multiple 'Wholly Grails' ?
Just last week, a seller had "researched", ALLEGEDLY, a silver plate shaving scuttle complete with a lid hot damn a rarity? But wait, no handle? no brush rest? lid has a half moon cut out? DUH!!!! is african Sugar Bowl ya bleedin numpty !!!
I dang sure after being told what it IS, it has been re-listed without the lid.

Thanks a million for your research and obvious expertise ; you`re a treasure ; Good on you Wombat ESQ - for sticking to your guns and helping people avoid getting ripped off on online auction sites - well done indeed because integrity is rare and priceless - all the more so in these terrible, tumultuous times unfortunately.